William Longespee

William Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (1176-7 March 1226) was the Earl of Salisbury under the Kingdom of England. The illegitimate son of Henry III of England and Ida de Tosny, William was granted land in Lincolnshire by his father, and his brother King Richard the Lionheart had him marry a wealthy heiress, Countess Ela of Salisbury. Under his brother King John of England, William destroyed the French navy at Damme in 1213, ending the threat of a French invasion of England. He was captured while commanding the right wing of the English army at the Battle of Bouvines, and he found England's nobles in a state of rebellion against John when he returned home. William believed that John's cause was lost, and he sided with the barons and Prince Louis of France in the First Barons' War. After John's death, William joined the cause of his son Henry III of England, and he would be a sheriff until his death in 1226 at Salisbury Castle; Hubert de Burgh was accused of poisoning him.